This morning, Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Economic Development Corporation launched a new 3D-printing competition called “New York’s Next Top Makers” to invite promising NYC designers and inventors to submit their designs for a chance to win cash prizes and an opportunity to prototype their products. The announcement was made at the ribbon-cutting of the new 25,000-square-foot Shapeways 3D-printing “Factory of the Future” in Long Island City, Queens, which when complete, will have the potential to be the biggest consumer-facing 3D-printing manufacturing facility in the world. The mayor and the city are hoping that the contest will act as a catalyst for NYC entrepreneurs and makers and boost creativity and small business in the city. The cash prizes have still not been announced but the top six makers will win studio space from NYDesigns, a chance to bring their designs to life, and mentorships from Shapeways, Adafruit Industries, and Honeybee Robotics.